Seed-planter



No. 752,595. PATENTED FEB; 16, 1904."

W. H. SANDIPUR.

SEED PLANTER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 28, 1903.

NO MODEL. 2 SHBET S'SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES Patented February 16, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

SEED-PLANTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 752,595, dated February 16, 1904'.

Application filed November 28, 1903 Serial No. 183,053. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that LWILLIAM H. SANDIFUR, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bowling Green, in the county of Wood and State of Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvements in Seed-Planters, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has relation to new and useful improvements in seed-planters, and more particularly to the seed-dropping-mechanism which is associated with; the seed-hopper.

The object of the invention is to construct and associate, in combination with the seedcarrying devices, a seed-droppin g means which will be readily and conveniently adjustable to drop seeds of different sizes or in different quantities or numbers.

The invention consists in the improvedarrangements and aggroupments of the various distinctly claimed.

elements in operative combination, which will be fully described hereinafter and the novelty of which will be particularly pointed out and I have fully and clearly illustrated my invention in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and wherein Figure 1 is a horizontal section through the seed hopper or receptacle, showing the seeddropping devices in top plan view. Fig. 2 is a vertical transversesection centrally through the seed-hopper and my improved seed-drop ping mechanism. Fig. 3 is a central vertical section through the hopper and the seed-dropping mechanism, the means for operating the dropping mechanism being shown in eleva- 2 designates a transversely-arranged hori-,

zontal plate of a length slightly shorter than the distance between diametrically opposite points on the circumference of the hoppershell and merging at its opposite ends in a flat ring 3, there being segmental openings 4; between the opposite'sides of the member 2 and the inner edge of the flat ring 3, as clearly shown in Fig. 4. Extending upwardly from the outer edge or periphery of the plate 2 or the ring 3 is an outwardlyflaring annular flange 5, provided in its upper free edge with a circumferential groove 6 to receive the lower edge of the cylindrical hopper-shell1, the latter being preferably secured in the flange by swaging the walls of the grooves 6 into close engagement therewith. At its inner edge and at the base of the flange 5 the flat ring 3. is also provided with an annular vertically-extending flange 7 a space or channel 8 being formed between the flanges 5 and 7, and the latter also performing a function to be more fully set forth hereinafter.

The transversely arranged member 2 is formed at a point intermediate its ends with a circular opening 9; which, ashereinafter described, constitutes the bearing for the rotary seed-dropping mechanism located in the bottom of the hopper and carried by the transverse member 2 and the flat ring 3.

Rotatably mounted in the lower portion of the hopper and having bearing with its under side upon the upper face of the flange 7 is a horizontally-disposed circular member 10,pro vided with a centrally-arranged hub or sleeve 11, which projects into and has bearing within the opening 9 in the transverse member 2, as clearly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. This hub is held in engagement with the'member 2 by means of a ring or plate 10, arranged in the under face of the said member and secured to the hub by means of fastening-screws 10 5 as clearly shown in Fig. 2. The outer edge of this member lies substantially flush with the outer vertical face of the flange 7 and is provided at determined intervals with vertically-extending blocks or fingers 12, the upper and lower ends of which project a distance above and below the top and bottom of the member, respectively, the lower ends of said fingers being located within the channel 8 and having their lower ends chamfered or inclined inwardly, as at 13, in orderthat they may closely engage the inner face of the flange 5 and fit snugly within the said channel 8. The upper ends of these fingers are also inclinedin order that no space will be aflorded upon which seeds may lodge or to impede the gravitation of the seed to the seed-pockets 14, which are shown as formed by the spaces or recesses between the fingers 12. The rear faces of the fingers or blocks 12 are inclined from the point at which they join the member 10 to their outer surfaces in order that the passage of the seed into the pockets 13 will be facilitated as the member rotates and the pockets will be completely filled with the desired quantity of seed. Upon the bottom of the member 10 is formed a circular rack or depending gear-teeth 15, arranged to be engaged by a wheel 16 on one end of a horizon- -tallydisposed shaft 17, the outer end of which carries an operating means 18, which, as shown in the drawings, consists of a wheel adapted to be rotated by means of a checkwire. (Not shown.)

19 designates a cone-plate arranged above the member 10 and provided at its lower annular edge portion with depending tongues 20, which are adapted to be slidably arranged within the recesses 14 in the member 10, said tongues being so shaped as to fit snugly within the said recesses in order that no crevices will .be formed in which the seeds may lodge, and at their lower portions the tongues are concaved, as at 21, for a purpose to be hereinafter more fully set forth. On its under side and 5 depending from the center thereof the coneplate 19 is provided with a vertical shaft 22,

which is slidably arranged for vertical movement in the opening through the hub 1 1, carried by the member 10, and may be rigidly united 5 5 to the said member by means of a set-screw 23, threaded through the hub 11 and engaging said shaft. By this arrangement of the rotating may be fed to the seed-spout. It will be seen that when the cone-plate 19 is in its lowermost position the ends of the fingers 20 will be flush, or nearly so, with the lower ends of the fingers 12 on the member 10 and that the concave recesses 21 will alone constitute the seed-pockets of a size to feed a minimum quantity of the seeds to the spout and that a vertical movement of the cone-plate will move the ends of the fingers 20 upwardly to increase the capacity of the seed-pockets, the walls of which will be formed by the edges of the fingers 12, the ends of the tongues 20, and the outer peripery of the vertical flange 7.

Arranged in one side of the flange 5 and ring 3 is an outlet 24, through which the seed passes from the seed-pockets to the seed-spout, (not shown,) said outlet being located adjacent one end of the transverse member 2, upon which is disposed a knock-out to throw the seed from the seed-pockets to the spout. This knock-out consists of an arm 25, disposed flat upon the member 2 and pivoted at one end to said member, as at 26, to swing in a horizontal plane, the opposite end of said arm being provided with a lateral extension 27, having a cam-engaging face 27 arranged to normally project through an opening 28 in the flange 7 across the outlet 24 between the fingers 12, the said knock-out being held in its normal position by means of a spring 29 on the member 2. It will be perceived that as the member 10 is rotated the end of the knock-out will be forced inwardly on its pivot by the inner faces of the fingers 12 engaging with the cam-face 27 and when each finger passes out of engagement with the knock-out the spring 29 will exert its force to throw the extension 27 through the opening 28 into the seed-pocket 14 to eject the seed from the pocket through the outlet into the seed-spout.

Pivotally supported at one end, as at 30, upon the inner side of the flange 7 is a cutoff 31, the free end of which is projected rearwardly or in a direction opposite to that in which the seeding devices rotate, said cut-01f being located over the outlet 24 and bearing with itsside portions in close engagement with the inner side of the flange 5 and the outer periphery of the seeding-disk consituted by the member 10 and the cone-plate 19, the free end of said cut-off being held normally depressed, as shown in Figs. 2 and 5, by means of a spring 32, arranged on the outer side of the flange 5 and having one end directed inwardly, as at 33, and extending through an opening 34 in said flange into engagement with the cut-off. It will be seen that when the disk is rotated the seed will be carried by the pockets toward the outlet 24 and that as any of the pockets approaches and passes the end of the cut-off the seed adjacent said cut-off will be prevented thereby from being carried to the outletand only the quantity of seed determined by the size of said pocket will be thrown by the knock-out through the outlet 24 into the speed-spout.

The complete operation of the invention as above described is as follows: The hopper or receiver 1 having been supplied with a quantity of seed to be planted, it will be perceived that the seed will be directed by the cone-plate 19-into the space between the flange 5 and the outer periphery of the seed-disk and thence into the pockets constituted by the recesses in the member 10 and the fingers on the coneplate. The seed-disk, which is formed by said member and plate, is then rotated and the seedpockets with their contents are carried toward the outlet 24, the cut-off 31 Wiping the surplus seed from the pockets. As soon as the pockets pass over the outlet the extension 27 of the knock-out 25 will be thrown by the spring 29 through the space between the fingers 12 on the member 10 to eject the seed from the pocket into the seed-spout.

It will be seen from the above description, taken in connection with the drawings, that a seeding mechanism is provided consisting of few parts, simple in construction and opera tion, and which are readily adjustable to vary the size of the pocket to carry seeds of diiferent sizes or in various quantities.

Having thus fully described my invention,

what I claim as new is- 1. In a planter, a seed-disk comprising a member rotatable in a horizontal plane and having pockets and a vertically adjustable member carried by said first-named member and having means engaging the pockets whereby the capacity of said pockets may be regulated by the adjustment of said member.

2. In a planter, a seed-disk comprising a member rotatable in a horizontalplane and having pockets, and a vertically-adjustable member having tongues engagingthe pockets whereby the capacity of said pockets may be regulated by the adjustment of said member.

3. In a planter, a seed-disk comprising a member rotatable in a horizontal plane and having pockets and a hub, a second member provided with tongues engaging said pockets, and a shaft adjustably arranged in the hub in the first-named member and means to hold said shaft in adjusted position.

4. In a planter, a member carrying an outwardly-flaring annular flange and an inner vertical annular flange a member resting upon said inner flange rotatable in a horizontal plane, and having pockets, and a verticallyadjustable plate carried by said last-named member and having tongues engaging the pockets therein.

5-. In a planter, the combination with a hop' per, of a transverse member having an annular vertical flange having an opening, a seeddisk comprising a member resting on said flange rotatable in a horizontal plane and having seed-pockets, a vertically-adjustable plate carried by said last-named member and having tongues engaging the seed pockets, and a knock-out pivoted on the transverse member and projecting through the opening in the flange to eject the contents of the seed-pockets.

6. In a planter the combination with a hop per, of a transverse member having an annular vertical flange and an outer flaring flange having an opening, a seed-disk comprising a member resting on said vertical flange rotatable in a horizontal plane and having seedpockets, a vertically-adjustable plate carried by said last-named member and having tongues engaging the seed-pockets, a knockout pivoted on the transverse member and projecting through the opening in the flange to eject the contents of the seed-pockets and a pivoted cutofl" on the flaring flange engaging the outer periphery of the seed-disk.

7 In a planter, a hopper, ahorizontal member carrying an annular vertical flange having an opening therein a seed-disk resting on said flange rotatable in a horizontal plane and having seed-pockets, a knock-out on the horizontal member and working through the said opening into the seed-pockets to eject the seed therefrom.

8. In a planter, the combination with a hopper, of a horizontal member carrying an outer upwardly-flaring circular flange and an inner vertical flange having an opening, a seed-disk comprising a member resting on the inner flange rotatable in a horizontal plane and having seed-pockets, a vertically-adjustable plate carried by said last-named member and having tongues engaging the seed pockets, a knock-out pivoted on the transverse member and projecting through the said opening into the seed-pocket to eject the seed, a cut-off pivoted to the outer flange and engaging the outerperiphery of the seed-disk and the inner surface of the flange, and a spring on the outer side of the flange and extending through an opening therethrough into engagement with the cut-off.

9. In a planter, a seed-disk comprising a member rotatable in a horizontal plane, and provided with spaced fingers extending above and below the member, and a second member adjustably mounted on said first-named member and provided with depending tongues engaging the spaces between the fingers on said first-named member.

10. In a planter, a seed-disk comprising a member rotatable in a horizontal plane having seed-pockets and a central opening, a vertically-adjustable member carried by said firstnamed member provided with tongues engaging the seed-pockets and a vertical shaft on the adjustable member and slidably engaging the opening in the first-named member and gaging the seed-pockets to vary the capacity means to hold the shaft at adeterminedpoint thereof. 10 in the opening. In testimony whereofI afiiX my signature in 11. In a planter, a seed-disk comprising a presence of two Witnesses. 5 member rotatable in a horizontal plane, and 7 WILLIAM H. SANDIFUR.

having seed-pockets a coneplate arranged Witnesses: over said member and vertically adjustable J OHN- B. MILLER, with relation thereto and having means en- ROBERT DUNN. 

